Costa Rica

Costa Rica Caribbean Adventure

Imagine an unspoiled place with lush mountainous rainforests, beautiful waterfalls, rushing rivers, and a multitude of wildlife – with breathtaking tropical beaches, a unique indigenous culture and a special Caribbean vibe only a short distance away. Welcome to the Costa Rica’s Caribbean and the amazing experience I offer.

I run a small eco-tour company, and offer a tailored experience to the Caribbean highlands and Caribbean coast, a pristine corner of Costa Rica. We attract travelers who want to have an authentic, relaxing vacation and see the true beauty of Costa Rica.

Our trips feature a diversity of experiences and adventures, offering a mosaic for all your senses. In the Caribbean highlands, travelers stay at Finca Rio Perla, a serene eco-farm near the slopes of the magnificent Volcan Turrialba that offers horseback riding, amazing jungle and waterfalls hikes and a glimpse at a real working Tico farm, as well as easy access to some amazing whitewater rafting!

From there, travelers head to the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean coast where they can visit the Tortuguero and Cahuita National Parks, experience the native cultures of the Bribrí and Cabecar and go on a zipline adventure high in the jungle canopy - later chilling in the the colorful town of Puerto Viejo – one of the most happening places in Costa Rica – a place where surfers, backpackers and the counter-culture crowd blend with the local Latino, Afro-Caribbean and indigenous cultures.

No matter how small your group, we draw on our experience and personal relationships with local hotel owners, activity and adventure providers, and the Finca Rio Perla eco-farm to create the best possible experience for your interests. So, let us help you plan your vacation in Costa Rica's Caribbean. As we say in Costa Rica, Pura Vida!

This is an example of the 8 day itinerary that has been popular with travelers, and that I am offering here. We suggest you arrive in Costa Rica on a Saturday, leaving on the Sunday of the following week, thus maximizing your vacation days.

Before departing, you will receive a comprehensive list of suggested things to bring on the Caribbean Experience, as well as a detailed itinerary.

Day 1: San Jose – Finca Rio-Perla

Arrive in San Jose the capital of Costa Rica early afternoon; pickup from airport and drive to Finca Rio Perla, 2 ½ hours away. Check-in will be followed by refreshments, dinner, and drinks.

Day 2: Finca Rio-Perla

• Guided horseback ride , followed by macadamia picking, fresh sugarcane tasting, and a hike down to the big waterfall (over 100 ft!), where you will take a swim in the cool water and enjoy the rainforest all around you!
• Farm tour and orientation
• Tilapia fishing (tonight’s dinner!)
• Festive vegetarian dinner, after which you can play pool in the Stablo, or chill on the deck and listen to the jungle noise put you to sleep…

Day 3: Finca Rio-Perla

• Milking the farm’s dairy cows (optional activity), and Tico style cheese making workshop.
• Small Waterfall hike and swim (or swim in the farms brand new swimming pool)
• Farm activities: planting trees to help reforest / offset travel carbon emissions, help with the farm’s vegetable and herb garden, collect fresh eggs, or work the macadamia grove with machetes.
• Hike to the upper part of the farm.
• A horseback cattle drive: experience being a Tico cowboy/girl!
• An option of going into town and visiting a local Tico bar/roadhouse!

Day 4: Rafting adventure

• Go on a rafting adventure on the nearby Pacuare River, known as one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids (Class III-IV).
• Return to the farm for some afternoon chill time
• Enjoy your last dinner on the farm – you will miss it!

Day 4: Finca Rio Perla – Puerto Viejo

• Travel to the coast, and to Puerto Viejo, one of the most happening places in Costa Rica- a place where surfers, backpackers and the counter-culture crowd blend with the local Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures, with its pristine coastline acting as a backdrop.
• head up the mountains for a short ride to the Indigenous Bribri tribal area, where you will learn a bit about their history, about medicinal plants used by the tribe, as well as the history chocolate; you will also try some of the best organic chocolate you have ever tasted!
• At night, you can go for a Caribbean style dinner in town, taking in the special and laid back ambiance of Puerto Viejo. Later, you can hit one of the many bars/clubs/live music venues in town.

Day 5: Puerto Viejo & Manzanillo

Head south for a half day hike in the amazing Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge – one of the best trips for wildlife viewing in the whole of Costa Rica. This will take you on some of the Refuge’s inner trails, or you can explore the bluffs and tiny hidden beaches along the coast – and will include walking through the primary rainforest where we will encounter many of its colorful inhabitants and do some exquisite bird watching with local naturalist, Tino. The tour is provided by ATEC, a local nonprofit that helps promote culturally and ecologically sound tourism and small-scale, locally owned and responsible businesses in the area. After the tour you will enjoy home hospitality and a meal with a local family, and spend the afternoon on the picture-perfect beach.

Day 6: Puerto Viejo

• Go on an amazing Jungle Canopy Tour, where you will literally fly through the rainforest by zipline.
• Visit the highly recommended Jaguar Rescue Center, a unique animal rescue center, where you will be able to learn (and hold) some of the amazing animals (including monkeys) that call this area home.
• Enjoy a Sunset Cruise– including amazing offshore swim and all you can drink bar and BBQ.

Day 7: Puerto Viejo and vicinity

Saturday is your chill day with some options: You can rent bicycles and tour the amazing beaches south of town, take a surfing lesson, see a butterfly or iguana farm, go to the botanical gardens, go kayaking or diving or just spend the day on the beach.
A great option would be to travel to the laid back town of Cahuita and go on a boat snorkeling tour of the local tropical reef– a unique and fragile ecosystem. You can also hike through Cahuita National Park, including chill time on one of the most amazing beaches in Costa Rica. In Cahuita you can lunch at Ms. Edith’s, tasting unique Caribbean/Creole dishes.

Day 8: Puerto Viejo – San Jose

Time for goodbye!

You will leave Puerto Viejo by in the morning, in time to make flight back home from San Jose (4-5 hours drive).

Accommodations:

For your time on the farm, we will stay in rustic but comfortable rooms, uniquely decorated with interesting artwork. Wide windows offer a spectacular view and cool clean mountain air, accompanied by soothing sounds of nearby streams, howler monkeys and birds!
Rooms on the farm sleep 2-4 people, with shared and newly installed hot showers and toilets. The farm has municipal and spring water, electricity, and telephone and fast internet service.
For you time on the coast, we can accommodate you in simple and comfortable hotels, such as the unique Cabinas Jacaranda or the elegant Casa Verde Lodge.

Transportation:

We will provide all transfers during the week using taxies, 4x4 vehicles and public transportation.

Insurance:

We advise you purchase travelers insurance before leaving – This should not cost more than $20.
You will also have to fill a waiver for your trip and your stay on the farm, as well as for other adventure activities we will be doing throughout the trip.

Ami was born in Israel and has worked for many environmental NGOs in Israel. In the US, Ami worked on Issues of energy security in Washington DC, and in 2009, after devoloping and leading a group environmental tour to Israel, decided to turn his hobby of adventure and eco-tourism into a business.
He now runs eco-tourism experiential tours to the Caribbean part of Costa Rica, and plans to offer environmental tours of Israel in the future. He holds a bachelors in Environmental Science and a Masters in Environmental Policy.
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